Özgür Özel, Turkey’s main opposition leader, has condemned alleged corruption within the Republican People’s Party (CHP)–run Manavgat Municipality in southern Turkey, vowing accountability if misconduct is confirmed amid an expanding investigation that has seen 41 people detained.
Özel addressed the case during a live interview on Halk TV on Monday night, responding to the release of a video that purportedly shows Manavgat Deputy Mayor Mehmet Engin Tüter accepting a bribe of 110,000 euros concealed in a box of pastries.
“If that footage is real, may God punish him a thousand times over,” Özel said. “There is no forgiving someone who would jeopardize the future of this party. If the allegations are true, we will sever all ties with that individual without hesitation.”
Özel added that CHP inspectors had been dispatched to the municipality and said initial internal findings were “not reassuring.” He said the CHP holds itself to the same standards it demands of others. “There can be no compromise on transparency or ethics,” he said.
His remarks come amid a sweeping investigation into alleged bribery, abuse of office and embezzlement at the Manavgat Municipality, located in the southern province of Antalya. The probe, led by the Manavgat Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, is based on claims that municipal officials demanded illegal payments for construction permits and other zoning-related approvals.
This marked the first time Özel has publicly acknowledged the possibility of corruption in a CHP-run municipality. Until now, he had described the wave of investigations and detentions targeting opposition officials as politically motivated, part of what he views as an attempt by the government to weaken the CHP’s growing momentum ahead of potential early elections.
On Tuesday seven additional people were detained in connection with the case, bringing the total number of detainees to 41. The investigation in Manavgat began last Friday with the detention of 34 people, including Mayor Niyazi Nefi Kara and several deputy mayors. A local court has since ordered the formal arrest of six suspects, including a city council member and several businessmen.
Mayor Kara, who remains in custody, was referred to court on Monday along with 24 other suspects after four days of police questioning.
Kara and Deputy Mayor Tüter were arrested later on Tuesday.
Kara, who previously served two terms as a CHP lawmaker for Antalya, was elected mayor of Manavgat in the March 31 local elections with 44.94 percent of the vote last year.
The investigation comes amid broader scrutiny of opposition-led municipalities in Turkey and growing political tension between the government and the main opposition party that culminated with the arrest of İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in March.
İmamoğlu, the CHP’s presidential candidate for the next election, is seen as the strongest political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. His arrest led to large protests unseen in Turkey since 2013.
Despite this backdrop, Özel said any official found guilty of corruption would not be shielded by the party. “We will not tolerate actions that compromise public trust,” he said.
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) government claims the arrests targeting the CHP mayors and officials are based on legal grounds, while critics accuse Erdoğan of using the judiciary to stifle dissent.